
Some types of injuries may require special legal expertise because they have such a significant, long-term impact on your life. One such type of injury is a spinal cord injury.
A knowledgeable catastrophic injury attorney can handle cases concerning all different types of injuries. When you have sustained this type of harm, you should consult an experienced Virginia Beach spinal cord injury lawyer to put together the strongest possible personal injury case.
A spinal cord injury happens when an impact or other event damages the pathway of nerves and nerve fibers that the brain uses to communicate with the rest of the body. Any injuries that impact the head, neck, or back may also affect the spine. Most spinal cord injuries are caused by falls or by car accidents.
A person with a spinal cord injury may have temporary or permanent impacts to their feeling, movement, strength, and bodily functions below the site of injury. For example, an injury on the back of the head or neck could result in paralysis and loss of feeling anywhere below that injury, including both arms and legs. However, an injury to the lower back may only affect the lower body and legs.
Whenever a serious accident, like a car crash, results in injuries to the head, neck, or back, the injured parties need medical care to determine if there are any impacts to the spinal cord. This is because the effects of the spinal cord injury do not always show up immediately but may manifest later due to bleeding, inflammation, and cell death in the spinal column. An attorney in Virginia Beach could collect evidence to show the cause of a spinal cord injury and the damage a client sustained.
A spinal cord injury is a life-changing event. The injured person will require medical checkups, tests, imaging, and rehabilitation. They may need devices to help them get around, such as crutches, braces, or a wheelchair, and they may have to retrofit their home or vehicle to make it more accessible. They will suffer from pain, emotional distress, and the worry associated with their changed life circumstances. Their schoolwork, job, and social life will also be tremendously impacted, and they may even require help from caregivers. Even if their injuries do not cause permanent paralysis, people with spinal cord injuries still must deal with a lot of these problems.
An experienced spinal cord injury lawyer in Virginia Beach could help injured clients win financial compensation for what they have been through and what they will continue to deal with in the future. Compensation for things like medical bills, rehabilitation services, and lost wages fall under the umbrella of economic damages because they can be calculated from past expenses or extrapolated from known future costs.
However, state law also permits injured people to recover non-economic damages for things like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship, and emotional trauma. Because these damages are harder to estimate, a lawyer could hire experts and use their negotiating skills to ensure the highest damages for their client’s case.
Having a serious accident such as a car or truck crash can be a traumatic experience, especially if it results in a serious injury. When your life has changed in an instant, you can feel overwhelmed and afraid. However, you do not have to face a legal case on your own.
If you have sustained a spinal cord injury because of the actions of another person or entity, contact our office today. Let a Virginia Beach spinal cord injury lawyer take the lead on your case so you can focus on your recovery.